Container carrier



May 26, 1970 R. J. ECKHOLM, JR 3,513,970

CONTAINER CARRIER Filed Nov. 17, 1967 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 R. J. ECKHOLM, JR 3,513,970

CONTAINER CARRIER May 26, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17. 1967 1w; JlZ aim, J21

United States Patent Oflice 3,513,970 Patented May 26 1970 3,513,970 CONTAINER CARRIER Robert J. Eckholm, Jr., New York, N.Y. (8501 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, Ill. 60631) Filed Nov. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 684,053 Int. Cl. B65d 71/00, 25/12, 75/40 Us. Cl. 20665 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a novel carrier device, and more specifically to a novel device for carrying and packaging a plurality of containers such as cans, bottles and the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel carrier device capable of not only securely retaining a plurality of containers such as cans or bottles in a package, but also capable of providing a cushioning protection for the containers.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel packaging device for cans, bottles and the like which is of simple construction, requires little or no preforming, and may be easily and economically stored and handled in a flattened condition while at the same time being capable of encircling and substantially enclosing sides of the containers when assembled therewith.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide 'a novel packaging device or carrier of the above described type formed from a sheet of heat sealable plastic material in a manner so that it is adapted to be wrapped around the sides of a plurality of containers for retaining the containers in the package.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a package comprising a plurality of cans and a carrier device incorporating features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified or schematic end view of the package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the package with the cans omitted therefrom and prior to heat sealing of various portions to each other so as clearly to show the manner in which the carrier is formed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the carrier assembled with a plurality of bottles;

FIG. 5 is a simplified or schematic end view of the package and carrier shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the containers omitted and showing the carrier prior to heat sealing of various portions thereof to each other; 7

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing a portion of the carrier of FIG. 1 assembled with a can;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 99 in FIG. 7;

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a package 10 incorporating features of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7-9. The package 10 comprises a carrier or packaging device 12 and a plurality of containers which, in this embodiment, comprise cans '14. The cans are of known construction and include cylindrical bodies and annular axially and radially projecting rims or beads 16 joining opposite ends of the body to end or closure members.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention the carrier 12 is formed from a single elongated strip 118 of sheet material. The strip is initially straight and flat and may be easily handled and stored in this condition. The width of the strip fits preferably substantially equal to the length of the cylindrical container so that the strip fits between the end flanges or rims of the containers and engages therebeneath as shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9.

The length of the strip 18 is suflicient to permit it to be wrapped around and secured with respect to the containers or cans in the manner described below. The length is also preferably sufiicient to enable end portions 20 and 22 to project laterally from the package for providing hand grips or handle members facilitating handling and carrying of the package. Furthermore, these end portions or handle members may be provided with elongated slots or finger openings 24 as shown in FIG. 1.

While the carrier may be adapted for packaging different numbers of cans or containers, the embodiment shown herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention is formed for retaining six cans. Furthermore, various means may be adopted for wrapping and securing the carrier around the containers.

In the embodiment shown, it is contemplated that the carrier 12 be assembled with the containers in the following manner. The containers are first arranged in slightly spaced apart side-by-side rows of three as shown in FIG. 2. Then the strip is loosely placed around the exterior of the containers and portions of the strip are tucked between adjacent cans or containers. Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a center part 26 of the strip is tucked between a pair of endmost cans by a narrow blade member 28 or other suitable means. In addition, side portions 30 and 32 are tucked or inserted between adjacent cans ofone row by similar narrow blade members 34 and 36 and opposite side portions 38 and 40 of the strip are inserted between the adjacent cans of the opposite row by narrow blade members 42 and 44. Then portions 46 and 48 of the strip immediately adjacent with and merging with the handle portions 20 and 22 are tucked between the endmost cans opposite from the center portion 26 by narrow blade elements 50 and 52. Thus, the strip is wrapped around the cans and formed into substantially circular or semi-circular tubular sections or pockets 54, 56 and 58 at one side and 60, 62 and 64 at the opposite side.

In order to complete the container and secure it with respect to the packages, the previously mentioned portions or folds 26, 30 and 38 are pressed together and secured to each other as indicated at 66 in FIG. 2 while the portions 32, 40, 44 and 46 are similarly pressed together and secured with respect to each other as indicated at 68. Preferably this is accomplished by heat sealing these portions of the carrier together and thus the previously mentioned blade elements utilized for tucking or folding the material between the cans are provided with narrow electrically heated heat sealing bars 70 at their edges.

The sheet material of the carrier is constructed for not only retaining the containers, but also for cushioning and insulating the containers from shock. The construction of the carrier sheet material is shown in detail in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. More specifically, the strip 18 of the carrier comprises a first substantially fiat strip or sheet 72 and a second strip or sheet 74. The sheet 74 is embossed or otherwise formed so that it has a plurality of bubbles or raised cushion portions 76 which, in the embodiment shown, have a generally circular configuration. Areas 78 of the sheet 74 between the bubbles or cushion portions are heat sealed or otherwise secured to the flat or base sheet 72 as indicated at 80 in FIG. 8.

The bubbles or cushion portions 76 are hermetically sealed so that air trapped therein provides a resilient cushion. This cushioning effect not only protects each individual container in the package from an adjacent container, but also protects the containers from outside shocks. As shown in FIG. 9, the overall thickness of the strip 18 provided by the sheets 72 and 74 and the cushion portions 76 is preferably greater than the radial extent of the can rims 16 so as to substantially preclude contact of any portion of adjacent cans'in the package with each other.

FIGS. 4-6 show a modified form of the present invention which is similar to the structure described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the sufiix a added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment the containers 14a are shown in the form of bottles instead of cans, but it is to be understood that cans could be packaged with the carrier 12a. Similarly, bottles could be packaged with the previously described carrier.

This embodiment differs primarily in the manner in which the strip 18 is wrapped around the containers. Referring particularly to FIGS. and 6, it is seen that the mid portion 26a of the strip forms an integral junction between the handle portions 20a and 22a which respectively merge with strip sections 82 and 84 extending longitudinally of the container rows and between the rows in substantially abutting relationship. Side portions of the strip are tucked between the adjacent containers as before. Thus, portions 30a and 38a are tucked between the containers and heat sealed or otherwise secured to the intermediate strip sections 82 and 84 at 66a. Portions 32a and 40a are also tucked between adjacent containers and heat sealed to the intermediate strips at 68a. In this embodiment, free ends 86 and 88 of the strip are heat sealed or otherwise secured to the sections 82 and 84 as shown at 90 in FIG. 5. The portions 30a, 32a, 38a and 40a are sealed along wide bands 66a and 68a so as to engage the bottles almost entirely around their peripheries. The strip is Wrapped tightly and snugly around the bottles and the inherent resiliency of the strip material enables it to conform to irregularities and enlargements or reductions in the shape of the bottles for positively and securely retaining the bottles in the package.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A packaging device for a plurality of containers such as cans and bottles, comprising an elongated strip of sheet material for encircling said plurality of containers, said sheet material of the strip comprising a first inner substantially flat heat sealable plastic sheet and a second outer embosed heat sealable plastic sheet having a plurality of air pockets sealed to said inner sheet, said strip being disposed for presenting said inner flat sheet for direct contact with the containers, means securing :opposite ends of the strip, and intermediate portion of said strip being folded and tucked between adjacent containers and having its flat sheet in abutting relationship with the flat sheet of another strip portion for forming container retaining pockets, and heat seal means securing the flat sheet of said intermediate portion to the fiat sheet of said last mentioned strip portion.

2. A package comprising at least six containers such as cans and bottles arranged in a predetermined pattern including two side-by-side rows of at least three containers each, and a carrier device con-fining and retaining said containers, said device comprising a one-piece elongated strip of heat sealable plastic sheet material, means securing opposite ends of the strip, first portions of the strip extending between first endmost containers of said rows, second portions of said strip extending between opposite endmost containers of the rows, said strip including a plurality :of intermediate portions folded and tucked between adjacent containers in each of said rows, certain of said intermediate portions abutting and being heat sealed to said first portions and other of said intermediate portions abutting and being heat sealed to said second portions and providing pockets snugly encircling said containers, the pockets encircling said endmost containers engaging at least about three-quarters of the circumference of such endmost containers, said strip having a substantial width and engaging a substantial axial length of the containers greater than the diameter of the containers, and said strip including an integral handle portion projecting laterally from the containers.

3. A packaging device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said strip includes a portion for projecting laterally from the containers and having finger opening means therein for providing a handle.

4. A packaging device, as defined in claim 1, for retaining at least six of said containers arranged in a predetermined pattern comprising two side-by-side rows of containers, said strip including a mid portion tucked between first endmost cans of said rows and portions toward opposite ends of the strip tucked between opposite endmost cans of the rows, said strip including a pluralityof said intermediate portions respectively tucked between the cans of each row, means securing a pair of said intermediate portions to said mid portion, and means securing another pair of said intermediate portions to said portion adjacent opposite ends of the strip.

5. A packaging device, as defined in claim 1, for retainng at least six containers arranged in a pattern havingtwo adjuacent rows of containers, wherein a mid portions of said strip is disposed outwardly of one end of said pattern, said strip including sections extending from said mid portion between said rows and around containers at an end of pattern opposite from one end, said strip including a plurality of said intermediate portions tucked between adjacent cans of each of said rows, means securing said plurality of intermediate portions to said sections, opposite ends of said strip encircling the cans at said one end of the pattern, and means securing saidopposite end to said sections.

6. A package, as defined in claim 2, wherein said sheet material comprises a pair of plastic sheets heat sealed together at spaced intervals and defining therebetween sealed air filled cushioning bubbles, said containers comprising cans having annular end rims of predetermined radial extent, said sheet material having an overall thickness greater than said radial extent of the can rims.

7. A package, as defined in claim 2, wherein said containers comprise bottles of varying peripheral configuration, and said sheet material of said strip comprises a pair of plastic sheets heat sealed together at intervals and defining therebetween sealed air filled cushioning bubbles, said pocket portions of said strip being wrapped snugly around said bottles and conforming to the shape 6 thereof around substantially the entire circumference FOREIGN PATENTS thereof.

7 References Cited 539,712 10/1955 Belgium.

UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM T. DIXSON, ]R., Primary Examiner 3,097,740 7/1963 Poupitch .206'65 5 3,112,826 12/1963 Blum 20665 CL 3,360,179 12/1967 Carstens 206 65 21753; 220-102; 22445 3,349,990 10/1967 Woodford 22914 

